Monument record 1653/1 - Woodford Manor

Irregular earthworks suggest the site of C17th Woodford Manor & garden remains.

{1} Remains of house and garden (SP 97237696) at the extreme north-east end of Woodford village alongside an old hollow-way or road leading to Thrapston, on the top of and on the steep slopes of the river valley, with extensive views across the Nene. The remains are those of a site of a house and a garden, apparently built by the St John family which bought the main manor in 1621 and owned it until the early C19th. To the south of the site and beside the old road are other earthworks including well-marked building-platforms and closes, which are the remains of former houses.

{2} Lord St John.

{5} The manor and half the parish is now in the possession of Will Lord St John.

{3} Aerial photos NCCAP:SP9777/001-8.

{7} SP 972770 Terraced earthworks under scrubby pasture represent the remains of Woodford Manor house and garden. It was possibly demolished when the present Woodford House was erected in 1813-26.
A map of 1731 in Northants Record Office shows the house and garden complete and can be fitted to the existing remains. Two large terraces (gardens) lie south-east of the main house site, which commands a fine open view across the Nene. The house site itself, much disturbed, is marked by a large area of irregular earthworks.

{8} SP 97237696 Site of early mansion and landscaped gardens.

{9} (SP 972769). There is evidence of major movement in settlement away from the River Nene and the Church. This is evidenced by hollow ways to the Ne East and South West of the present village.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.113/Site11 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<2> Eyre T. (Revised by Jefferys T.), 1779, Map of the County of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Map). SNN1852.

<3> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.256 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100370.

<4> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.467 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<5> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.265 (unchecked) (Book). SNN100366.

<6> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, (unchecked) (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<7> DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT, Ancient Monument Recording Form, DOE (IAM) AM Rec Form 11.1.77 (Recording Form (Not SMR)). SNN115158.

<8> Baird, J, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, F1 JB 31-OCT-69 (Note). SNN111452.

<9> Taylor, CC, 1978, Aspects of village mobility in medieval and later times, p. 130-1 (Report). SNN110876.

<10> RCHME, Undated, RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire I (North-East), 890431 (Archive). SNN113295.

<11> Historic England, Woodford Manor: Photographs (Archive). SNN115159.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:19PM